Albuquerque police said a homeowner shot and killed someone during a home invasion Thursday morning.

Police said Robert Bartley broke into a home in the 1100 block of Stutz NE around 10 a.m. The noise woke the homeowner, who found Bartley crouching in the kitchen with what appeared to be a knife, according to authorities.

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They said the homeowner fired his gun at Bartley, who later died at the hospital.

Police said it's unclear why the alleged intruder was in the home, but added home invasions are usually tied to burglaries. They later found the rear door of the home had been forced open.

The homeowner was taken into custody, but police said he is not under arrest.

"He's a witness, and he did end up shooting and killing somebody," said Tanner Tixier, an Albuquerque Police Department spokesman. "Whether or not he's going to be charged, it's still too early to determine that. You do have a right to defend yourself in your home, but we're going to need to look at all the evidence."

While the homeowner was in custody, he started having anxiety issues, was put on a stretcher and taken to the hospital, according to police.